Marlene Brockington

Hey, I’m Marlene, 29 years old from New Jersey born with quadriplegia cerebral palsy, who loves to hang out with friends and travel. Traveling is becoming increasingly difficult without the proper transportation to help me get around. My current transportation is not reliable, and I am currently at risk of being suspended because I often have to cancel trips on short notice because of my chronic constipation, which is like IBS. When I’m not using the bus service my dad has to lift me to put me in his car.This isn’t safe anymore because my dad will be 70 years old in September. My disability hinders me from helping him with transferring me into his car. I have had a few accessible vans over the years and they have all lasted one to two years, before needing to be scrapped.We couldn’t afford to repair the vehicles and I am currently having the same issue with my van .I really don’t want to get rid of this one as quickly as the others. Although, I am now in the same situation like the others because we can’t afford to get it fixed. This van is special and I am trying to hopefully to make the necessary repairs,so I’ll able to keep it.Depending on the cost of the work it needs, we may have to get another one. The van is last thing that my mom helped me buy before she transition in May of last year She battled with multiple health issues, hypertension, gastroparesis, and multiple strokes. She was left with a rare neurological disorder called blepharospasm ,despite her battles one of the last things we did together as a family was taking a trip to go get my van. This van now has a host of other problems that will need to be fixed before I am able to travel to my necessary appointments and classes.
Thank you all for taking the time out to read this and for giving so graciously; we greatly appreciate it with love. Marlene